November 13, 2008

A statement released by secretary-general Ban Ki-moon has called for an immediate cease-fire to the conflict unfolding in Goma, an eastern part of the DR Congo. 100,000 refugees are now in desperate situation and the fighting has prevented their access to humanitarian assistance. Since conflict has unfolded in the region in the recent weeks, 250,000 refugees have been displaced from their homes. The secretary-general has called and mobilize a UN response to address the needs of the 100,000 refugees threatened by the conflict. Our thoughts are with those in Goma and our hope is that the fighting will end so that others will not suffer.

November 13, 2008

According to an article in the Los Angeles Times, the advocacy group Human Rights Watch recently condemned the nation of Egypt for shooting refugees crossing the Sinai desert region on their flight for asylum in Israel. In July of 2007, news about a seven-month pregnant woman being shot by Egyptian border guards only highlighted the 33 other refugees who have been killed by Egypt’s “Shot-to-Stop” policy towards those fleeing from their home. 32 of those killed have been black Africans. According to the article:

A report entitled, Sinai Perils: Risks to Migrants, Refugees and Asylum seekers in Egypt and Israel, points to the fact that the Egyptian government has not allowed African refugees to make asylum cases and have tried them in military courts before deporting them (hundreds in numbers) to conflict zones where the refugee’s well-being is jeopardized. It is important to note the experiences of black African refugees is drastically different than refugees from Palestine and Iraq.